Advertising display means.



No. 769,868.. PATENTED SEPT. 13, 1904. J. W. MAY.

ADVERTISING DISPLAY MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1903.

no MODEL.

A TTOHNE Y Patented September 13, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JEROME W. MAY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ADVERTISING DISPLAY IVIEANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,868, dated September 13, 1904.

Application filed Angus" 24, 1903.

,Means, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention in advertising display means relates to that class of advertising devices wherein an article of public utility is disposed as a feature of attraction, whereby the attention of the public is drawn to the advertising matter usually displayed in the form of cards representing the various branches of trade to which it is desired to call attention, and the whole being contained within a suitable framework or inclosure, so as to constitute a unit.

The object of my invention in this connection is to provide an article of utility, preferably a toilet article-such, for example, as a mirroras a chief feature of attraction in directing the attention toward the advertising matter in such places as theaters, concerthalls, auditoriums, and the like by aiiixing the advertising matter, together with the mirror, on the backs of chairs or seats, so that the occupants of a series of chairs or seats may become availed of the utility of the mirrors located in the backs of the respective chairs or seats ahead of them.

The chief feature characteristic of my invention lies in the manner whereby the framework which carries the mirror, together with the advertising matter, is disposed on the back of the chair so as to admit of the mirror being brought and set into a desired position for use. In carrying this feature of my invention into practice I have arranged a mirror centrally located with respect to the display of the advertising matter carried in a suitable framework of wood, light metal, or other suitable.

material. I have provided the upper edge of the frame where it adjoins the seat-back with a special hinge, adapted to the purpose of my invention and which forms part thereof, by which the said frame is secured to the seatback and arranged and constructed, as will be hereinafter more fully described, so as to permit the framework carrying the advertising matter and mirror to be compactly arranged Serial No, 170,556. (No model.)

relative to the seat-back when said framework shall not be in a position more convenient for the user. By this feature of my invention the necessity for having to return the display means to its original position is obviated, which otherwise would be attended with the liability of catching or tearing the garments of the occupant of a preceding seat, more especially while entering or leaving the same, or the display-frame from the back of the chair.

Still another object of my invention is to provide such advertising display means with an additional feature of utility, and in this connection I prefer to provide at the upper edge of the frame an adjustable spring-actuated arm, disposed as a hat-carrier, and construct it in a manner so as to be in accordance with the aforesaid provisions of my invention,

whereby the said arm shall be eliminated when not in use, obviating its being obstructive, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described in the specification, and illustrated in the drawings hereto attached, and the distinctive features of invention more fully pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a chair, illustrating the manner of attaching my improved advertising display means and also showing the same in a partlyraised position, as when being used. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view ofa portion of a chair-back and somewhat different construction of mechanism which operates the swinging frame. In this view the swinging frame is shown as a longitudinal section taken centrally through the attachment. Fig. 3 is a like view to that of Fig. 2 with the swinging frame closed upon the back of a chair. Fig. 4 is asectional elevational view of the upper portion of a chair-back embodying my invention, showing the operating parts, som of these parts being shown in the perspective, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view of the frame-operating mechanism shown in Fig. t, the frame being removed. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 4, the frame, however, being in a flat position. Fig. 7 is a detail longitudinal sectional view illustrating a still further modification of the swinging mechanism.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of drawings.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, a conspicuous feature of the device is presented by aframe A, pivotally connected at the rear of a chair-back B, near the upper edge thereof. This frame A has its exposed face divided by suitable strips a, forming divisions a for receiving advertising matter, and a centrally-located division (1 for containing a mirror in order to impart a quality of personal utility to the device. The frame A is provided at that side immediately opposite the chair-back with up per cars which are transversely perforated for the reception and securement of the ends of pins 6, which revolubly bear in rearwardlyprojecting ears 6, rigidly secu red to the chairback. The inner ends of the pins have secured thereto blocks 6 each provided with two intersecting cam-faces b Leaf-springs c are also appropriately secured to the chair-back and each has its free upper end extending in such position that it will bear full upon either cam-face of the contiguous block 5 according to the position in which the latter is turned. 7

From the description thus far it will be readily comprehended that with the frame secured to the back of a chair as explained it may be moved to lie flat against the same or be raised to occupy the inside position (illustrated in Fig. 1,) in which latter condition a person seated at the rear of the chair will be enabled to not only conveniently discern the advertising matter carried by the frame, but utilize the mirror therein. The character of the cam-blocks with the particular arrangement of leaf-springs provides for positively retaining the framein either its depending or inclined positions and insures the final-movement in approaching either position by the action of the free ends of the springs after the cam-blocks have passed their dead-centers, which is the point of intersection of the two cam-faces. V

The importance and utility of the invention will be most appreciated when considered in connection with its application to the backs of chairs in theaters and similar public edifices for accommodating seated audiences. With the frames on the backs of the chairs, as immediately before referred to, an extensive advertising capacity is provided, while the mirror feature of the improvement greatly enhances its utility as well as attractiveness. I do not desire to be understood as limiting myselfto any particular means for coacting with the pivotal portions of the frame, the desideratum being, however, that such means should materially aid in the movement of said frame in assuming either its fiat or inclined positions and serve to definitely retain the frame in either. Thus in Figs. 2 and 3 I have represented a cylinder C as being pivotally form of the invention will be obvious.

connected at its lower end to a bracket C projecting from the casting secured to the chair-back, a plunger 0 being movably carried within the cylinder by a rod 0, the upper end of which is eccentrically connected to the ears (0 on the back of the frame A. In this arrangement the lowering movement of said frame will result successively in slight upward and descending movements of the plunger, such movements being occasioned by the passage of the rod connection with the ears from a position atone side of the pivots b to a position at the other side thereof. Manifestly the lifting of the frame to an inclined position will cause a change in the position of the rod connection to one at the other side of .the ear-pivots, the same successive upward and descending movements of the plunger taking place. While undergoing the descending and ascending movements referred to an expanding spring 0 interposed between the upper cylinder-head and the plunger, respectively, will be compressed, and as soon as the rod connection passes beyond the dead-center position said spring will react to depress the plunger for automatically completing the lowering or raising movement of the frame, as the case may be, and coact to retain such frame in either of said positions. A short expanding spring 0 of somewhat less resiliency than the spring 0 is interposed between the plunger and lower head of the cylinder and serves to cushion said plunger during its downward movements.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated an arrangement operating somewhat after the manner of the spring provision employed in connection with the blade of a penknife. In the construction in the last-mentioned figure a casting C is secured tothe back B of the chair and has an upper ear 6*, in which revolubly bears a pin 0,, rigidly carried by the ear a on the frame A This latter ear a has two cam-faces for coaction with the upper free end of a strong thick spring 0 which is intermediately held in position by being passed downwardly through a loop 0 integral with the casting, While the lower end is introduced within a recess in an ear 0, the latter being integral with the lower end of the casting, such recess in the ear 0 being undercut to form a lug c, which is engaged by the lower hooked end of the spring, the recess in the ear c being sufficiently ample to permit the end of the rod after insertion in said recess to be moved laterally in order toengage thehook with the The operation of this The raising or lowering of the frame A will cause the spring G to be compressed toward the seat-back until the cam-point of each of the ears (0 passes the dead-point, whereupon the free ends of the springs will act to aid in bringing the frame to its final position in either movement thereof.

under side of the lug.

From the foregoing description it will be my invention is comparatively simple, conveniently applied, and highly serviceable, besides furnishing an advertising medlum capable of proving extremely lucrative.

Having now described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The within-described means comprising a frame having at one side a display-surface, devices below the upper edge of the frame, at its reverse side for the attachment of said frame to the rear of a seat-back, said devices including ears connected to the frame and swinging on suitable pivots, together with provision disposed at the reverse side of the frame, extending in a plane below the ears and exerting a force to swing and retain said frame in a raised or lowered position when at either side of a central position.

2. The within-described means comprising a frame having at one side a display-surface, devices below the upper edge of the frame, at its reverse side for the attachment of said frame to the rear of a seat-back, said devices including ears connected to the, frame and swinging on suitable pivots, together with spring provision disposed at the reverse side of the. frame, extending in a plane below the ears and exerting a force to swing and yieldingly retain said frame in a raised or lowered position when at either side of a central'position.

3. The within-described means comprising a frame having at one side a display-surface, devices below the upper edge of the frame, at its reverse side for the attachment of said frame to the rear of a seat-back, said devices including pivotal ears provided with camfaces disposed at an angle with respect to each scribing witnesses.

' JEROME W. MAY. WVitnesses:

PHILIP K. STERN, H. E. MAI-HER. 

